Thursday, February 08, 2007
Editorials: Bullying First Gentleman
THERE was very little to say and expect about Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano's 45-day suspension. You know that it's coming and yet you feel surprised that some of the President's allies are so brazen and utterly sycophantic in their defense of the First Gentleman of corruption charges.
At least Cayetano can use this to drum up support for his senatorial bid. But for what it's worth, the suspension only shows that the First Family is not above using its influence to suppress or intimidate critical people into submission even if they're duly elected officials of the land.
Mike Arroyo is not an elected official but as First Husband he should be above reproach like Caesar's wife. Apparently however the lesson is lost on him even if he is male but this little incident certainly won't result in more people cowering in their presence.
If anything it would only invite more contempt and criticism not only from the media but from other sectors of society as well.
Clock is ticking
The clock is ticking as far as the division of Cagayan de Oro into two congressional districts with Thursday supposedly the last day for Congress to approve the bill facilitating its division on third reading before submitting it to President Arroyo for final approval.
A lot is hanging on its approval, notably Padayon Pilipino's lineup for Cagayan de Oro in this year's elections. Its founder Mayor Vicente Emano is heading to Manila to personally see to it and one can only guess how this will play out today, the final Senate session day.
Emano reportedly said he got the personal assurance from Senate President Manuel Villar that it will be approved in the Senate this afternoon. Whether it still needs Congress approval has yet to be answered, even if officials love nothing more than an additional district to boost their electoral chances.
Though Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula admitted that the bill needed to be approved by the plenary in order to be submitted to Congress for approval by the President. And yesterday was supposed to be the final session day for Congress.
Still, the Padayon Pilipino is said to be ready about this eventuality anyway and maybe this is what Emano said when he pronounced that the party lineup will be ready by February 14. Aside from that, it's anything goes at this point and so it is that self-styled local political analysts make their fearless forecasts of how this little development would impact on the city's future.
More importantly it may lead to the question of whether Cagayan de Oro is better off with fewer officials but a bigger Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (February 8, 2007 issue)
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